Selvangal Inge Selvargal
From Kannamma · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Kannamma1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae | Riches are here, rich people are here, |
| Kallamilladha ullangal engae | Where are the pure, guileless hearts? |
| Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae | Riches are here, rich people are here, |
| Kallamilladha ullangal engae | Where are the pure, guileless hearts? |
| Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae | Riches are here, rich people are here. |
| Female | |
| Koondil irundhu kuyil ondru paadum | A cuckoo sings from inside a cage, |
| Paadiya paadal dhisai kandu oodum | The song it sang scatters across all directions, |
| Odiya nenjai orr ullam thedum | Another heart searches for the weary, fleeing heart, |
| Unmaiyum anbum oomaigalagum | Truth and love have both become mute. |
| Female | |
| Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae | Riches are here, rich people are here, |
| Kallamilladha ullangal engae | Where are the pure, guileless hearts? |
| Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae | Riches are here, rich people are here. |
| Female | |
| Maaligai thottam malarndhadhu mullai | Jasmine has bloomed in the palace garden, |
| Valarthavan yaaroo avan ingu illai | Whoever nurtured it is no longer here, |
| Maaligai thottam malarndhadhu mullai | Jasmine has bloomed in the palace garden, |
| Valarthavan yaaroo avan ingu illai | Whoever nurtured it is no longer here, |
| Nallavarkellam vaasalil ellai | For good people, the boundary ends at the doorstep, |
| Nallavarkellam vaasalil ellai | For good people, the boundary ends at the doorstep, |
| Yaar arivaaroo naan sonna sollai | Who will truly understand the words I have spoken? |
| Female | |
| Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae | Riches are here, rich people are here, |
| Kallamilladha ullangal engae | Where are the pure, guileless hearts? |
| Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae | Riches are here, rich people are here. |
| Female | |
| Ninaippavai kodi vaarthaigal illai | A million thoughts exist, but no words to express them, |
| Nerungavum aasai thairiyam illai | There is a desire to draw near, but no courage, |
| Manamena ondru iruppadhu thollai | Possessing something called a heart is a burden, |
| Manadhukku naduvae yen indha illai | Why is there such emptiness within the heart? |
| Female | |
| Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae | Riches are here, rich people are here, |
| Kallamilladha ullangal engae | Where are the pure, guileless hearts? |
| Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae | Riches are here, rich people are here. |
செல்வங்கள் இங்கே செல்வர்கள் இங்கே
கள்ளமில்லாத உள்ளங்கள் எங்கே
செல்வங்கள் இங்கே செல்வர்கள் இங்கே
கள்ளமில்லாத உள்ளங்கள் எங்கே
செல்வங்கள் இங்கே செல்வர்கள் இங்கே
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Riches are here, rich people are here.
கூண்டிலிருந்து குயிலொன்று பாடும்
பாடிய பாடல் திசை கண்டு ஓடும்
ஓடிய நெஞ்சை ஒருள்ளம் தேடும்
உண்மையும் அன்பும் ஊமைகளாகும்
A cuckoo sings from inside a cage,
The song it sang scatters across all directions,
Another heart searches for the weary, fleeing heart,
Truth and love have both become mute.
செல்வங்கள் இங்கே செல்வர்கள் இங்கே
கள்ளமில்லாத உள்ளங்கள் எங்கே
செல்வங்கள் இங்கே செல்வர்கள் இங்கே
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Riches are here, rich people are here.
மாளிகைத் தோட்டம் மலர்ந்தது முல்லை
வளர்த்தவன் யாரோ அவனிங்கு இல்லை
மாளிகைத் தோட்டம் மலர்ந்தது முல்லை
வளர்த்தவன் யாரோ அவனிங்கு இல்லை
நல்லவர்க்கெல்லாம் வாசலில் எல்லை
நல்லவர்க்கெல்லாம் வாசலில் எல்லை
யாரறிவாரோ நான் சொன்ன சொல்லை
Jasmine has bloomed in the palace garden,
Whoever nurtured it is no longer here,
Jasmine has bloomed in the palace garden,
Whoever nurtured it is no longer here,
For good people, the boundary ends at the doorstep,
For good people, the boundary ends at the doorstep,
Who will truly understand the words I have spoken?
செல்வங்கள் இங்கே செல்வர்கள் இங்கே
கள்ளமில்லாத உள்ளங்கள் எங்கே
செல்வங்கள் இங்கே செல்வர்கள் இங்கே
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Riches are here, rich people are here.
நினைப்பவை கோடி வார்த்தைகள் இல்லை
நெருங்கவும் ஆசை தைரியம் இல்லை
மனமென ஒன்று இருப்பது தொல்லை
மனதுக்கு நடுவே ஏனிந்த எல்லை
A million thoughts exist, but no words to express them,
There is a desire to draw near, but no courage,
Possessing something called a heart is a burden,
Why is there such emptiness within the heart?
செல்வங்கள் இங்கே செல்வர்கள் இங்கே
கள்ளமில்லாத உள்ளங்கள் எங்கே
செல்வங்கள் இங்கே செல்வர்கள் இங்கே
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Riches are here, rich people are here.
Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Kallamilladha ullangal engae
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Kallamilladha ullangal engae
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae
Riches are here, rich people are here.
Koondil irundhu kuyil ondru paadum
A cuckoo sings from inside a cage,
Paadiya paadal dhisai kandu oodum
The song it sang scatters across all directions,
Odiya nenjai orr ullam thedum
Another heart searches for the weary, fleeing heart,
Unmaiyum anbum oomaigalagum
Truth and love have both become mute.
Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Kallamilladha ullangal engae
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae
Riches are here, rich people are here.
Maaligai thottam malarndhadhu mullai
Jasmine has bloomed in the palace garden,
Valarthavan yaaroo avan ingu illai
Whoever nurtured it is no longer here,
Maaligai thottam malarndhadhu mullai
Jasmine has bloomed in the palace garden,
Valarthavan yaaroo avan ingu illai
Whoever nurtured it is no longer here,
Nallavarkellam vaasalil ellai
For good people, the boundary ends at the doorstep,
Nallavarkellam vaasalil ellai
For good people, the boundary ends at the doorstep,
Yaar arivaaroo naan sonna sollai
Who will truly understand the words I have spoken?
Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Kallamilladha ullangal engae
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae
Riches are here, rich people are here.
Ninaippavai kodi vaarthaigal illai
A million thoughts exist, but no words to express them,
Nerungavum aasai thairiyam illai
There is a desire to draw near, but no courage,
Manamena ondru iruppadhu thollai
Possessing something called a heart is a burden,
Manadhukku naduvae yen indha illai
Why is there such emptiness within the heart?
Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae
Riches are here, rich people are here,
Kallamilladha ullangal engae
Where are the pure, guileless hearts?
Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae
Riches are here, rich people are here.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song is a deep, philosophical lament on the superficiality of material wealth contrasted with the rarity of emotional and spiritual purity. The speaker observes a world filled with affluence and wealthy individuals, yet questions where true, deceit-free hearts have gone. Through vivid imagery—such as a caged cuckoo whose melody disperses unheard or a bloomed jasmine whose tender caretaker is absent—the lyrics paint a picture of trapped emotions, unappreciated goodness, and quiet suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Ninaippavai kodi vaarthaigal illai / Nerungavum aasai thairiyam illai”
The second consonant sound matches across lines, creating a rhythmic and melancholic flow (e.g., 'Ninaippavai' and 'Nerungavum').
Metaphor (Trapped Soul Imagery)
“Koondil irundhu kuyil ondru paadum”
The caged cuckoo ('koondil irundhu kuyil') serves as a metaphor for an innocent soul whose song/voice reaches far but remains imprisoned.
Rhetorical Question
“Kallamilladha ullangal engae”
The repeated existential question highlights the loss of moral values and genuine affection in a materialistic world.
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae”
The repetition of 'Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae' reinforces the presence of physical wealth to contrast it sharply with emotional scarcity.
Did you know?
Trivia
While singer L. R. Eswari was famously known during the 1960s and 1970s for her high-energy dance numbers and cabaret songs, lyricist Kannadasan and the music director duo Shankar-Ganesh utilized her unique voice here for a deeply emotional and reflective philosophical composition.
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